A FREE legal service is offering to help Brimbank residents address issues with Centrelink.
Victoria Legal Aid in Sunshine is seeking to educate residents on their rights in dealing with the federal organisation.
Lawyer Rosalinda Casamento says the centre has been inundated with calls from residents who have had payments refused, reduced or cancelled.
“People feel helpless when they’re notified of a Centrelink decision and may not realise that they have a right to ask for a review of the decision,” she said. “Centrelink’s own research shows that in about a third of cases, its original decision is overturned at review.”
Ms Casamento said Centrelink processes were often difficult to understand. “It’s very easy to make a mistake and the consequences can be very serious, with benefits reduced or stopped or even leading to criminal charges,” she said. “We have clients seeking Centrelink payments for a range of reasons, particularly disability pensions, single-parent payments, pensioners and migrants. A lot of vulnerable people don’t understand the legal system or that legally they can apply to have their case reviewed.”
One St Albans woman who couldn’t afford legal support represented herself in court after being rejected for a disability pension.
“She ended up unable to pay her bills or afford the cost of living,” Ms Casamento said. “She was living in darkness after her electricity and phone were cut off.”
The woman is now a client of the centre. She has since had her case reviewed and receives weekly Centrelink payments. Ms Casamento says the legal centre can also refer residents to a financial counsellor.
Centrelink also offers a conflict resolution service.
Victoria Legal Aid Sunshine: 9300 5333
